Introduction

This teaching was originally given at Bridgestown Church in Portland, Oregon as a part of the Gospel of Matthew series. The city Caesarea Philippi is 25 miles to the north of the Sea of Galilee. In the first century it was right on the northernmost border point between Israel and pagan territory. People would come from all over the Roman Empire to visit the Temple of Pane which was built around the cave that again was the entrance to Hades itself.